Sinn Fein has hit out at Irish Water after the firm published figures claiming 90% of customers who paid their first water charge bill had also paid their second bill.

Spokesperson on the Environment, Brian Stanley TD, claimed the figures were "dubious".

Deputy Stanley said: "It is also the case that the €100 so-called conservation grant has not succeeded in persuading many new people to begin paying their charges. Indeed it would seem that the uptake has been far less than was expected, and that forced them to extend the deadline until midnight tonight.

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"It is clear then that people are not being induced to pay the charges but are waiting for an election in the hope or expectation that the charges will be abolished. Sinn Féin is committed to this and will ensure that both Irish Water and the water charges are abolished if we are in government following the election."

(CD)